Gantry type crane assembly



C. D. RAMSDEN GANTRY TYPE CRANE ASSEMBLY Aug. 28, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed NOV. 23, 1959 0 mg Q IN V EN TOR. CHARLES D. RAMSDE/V HISATTORNEYS 1962 c. D. RAMSDEN 3,051,321

GANTRY TYPE CRANE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 6? 45"i 3 7 I I i INVEN TOR.

CHARLES D- RAMSDE/V BY fi zowa 3% HIS ATTORNEYS 8, 1962 c. D. RAMSDEN3,051,321

'GANTRY TYPE CRANE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CHARLES D. RAMSDE/V 6 wfiw s/ HIS A r TORNE rs United States PatentOfifice 3,051,321 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,321 GANTRY TYPE CRANEASSEMBLY Charles D. Ramsden, Alameda, Calif., assignor to Pacific CoastEngineering Company, Alameda, Calif., a corporation of California FiledNov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,862 7 Claims. (Cl. 212-14) My inventionrelates generally to movement of cargo or freight and more particularlyto the loading or transfer of such cargo or freight from one position ofrest to another.

Today, the freight industry is making increasing use of cargo containersof standard volume units for transporting of freight from pick-uptodestination. Typical of the size of such containers is one having alength of 24 feet, a width of 8 feet, and a height of 8 feet. Thesestandardized containers are loaded at one point, then transported andtransferred between the various common carriers without the necessity ofdisturbing the contents before unloading at the final destination. Suchcontainers may be of sufficient size to permit of ingress or egress of afork lift through an end thereof to facilitate the loading or unloadingof the contents of such container.

The method of handling such a container necessitates movement thereofwithout the ability to reorient the same to effect a change ofdirectional position of the container. Consequently, should it berequired to shift such a container from a flat car to a truck, or viceversa, from a truck to a fiat car, it may become necessary for the truckto maneuver to a position alongside the flat car, substantiallyparalleling the flat car in order that the transfer may be effected.

Similarly, where it may become desirable to unload such a container froma flat car or truck to a location adjacent an entrance to a warehouse,such location may be beyond the ability of the conventional gantry craneto make the transfer, or if within the range of such equipment, theplacing of the container at such location may result in its facing awayfrom the entrance to the warehouse, thus necessitating inconvenientmaneuvering of a fork lift to effect removal of the contents of suchcontainer to its intended place of storage in the warehouse.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved gantry type crane;

(2) To provide a novel and improved gantry type crane which is veryflexible in the handling of large items such as freight containers;

(3) To provide a novel and improved gantry type crane which is capableof rotating a suspended load under positive control throughout a full360 degree circle.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the same taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a three dimensionalview of a gantry type crane of the present invention;

' FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bridge and included trolley assemblyincluded in the crane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the bridge and included trolleyassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view depicting details of the drive for the trolley assemblyof FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views which together depict the hoist arrangement forlifting a freight container;

FIG. 7 is a view depicting a type of installation for which the presentinvention is adaptable.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferredform, the gantry type crane illustrated involves a pair of parallelspaced main girders 3 and 5 supported on legs 7, 9 and 11, 13respectively and stabilized by upper cross beams 15 at the ends of themain girders, and lower cross beams 17 interconnecting the legs.

Each leg terminates at its lower end in a gantry drive unit 19 ofsuitable design, for example, involving flanged wheels 21 for travel ontracks 25., and driven through a suitable motor 27.

Along each of the main girders 3 and 5, runs a rail 31, the two railstogether forming a track for the travel of a travelling bridge 35supported thereon.

Such travelling bridge involves a rectangular framework involvinglongitudinal parallel spaced structural members 37 of a length tostraddle the spacing between the main gantry girders, and connectedtogether by fabricated end beams 39 carrying suitable corner wheels 43for riding the gantry girder rails 31.

Spaced cross members 45 joining the longitudinal structure members 37,reinforce the bridge frame work and create a central section 47 flankedon either side by an end section 49 and 51.

Aligned drive shafts 53,55 extending toward each other from two of saidwheels 43 meet in a common gear, constituting a component of a reductiongear drive 57 coupled to a reversible drive motor 59 mounted on theframework. This provides means for driving the travelling bridge ineither direction along the gantry girders, the motor 59 having abuilt-in electrical braking system for effectively bringing movement ofthe bridge to a stop when desired.

Within the center section 47 of the bridge framework, is a circulartrack 67 supported directly by the longitudinal structural members 37and cross members 45, this track serving to rotatably support a trolleyassembly 71 in which all equipment essential to the lifting of a loadwill be carried, and in a manner such that the suspended load may beconveniently and efficiently rotated about a central vertical axis 75.

The rotatable trolley assembly includes a rectangular frame 78 havingcorners reinforced by parallel cross corner members 79, 81 providingjournal mountings for track Wheels 83 which engage and ride on thecircular rail 67. To one of the wheels may be connected a drive motor 87through a suitable reduction gear coupling 89, the motor, like thebridge drive motor, having a built-in electrical braking system.

The trolley frame 78, aside from the corners occupied by the wheels, maybe floored to provide a platform 91 for the mounting of the equipmentrequired to be carried thereon, including the drive motor 87 previouslymentioned.

Included in such equipment is a hoist drum 95 which is rotatably mountedadjacent an end of the platform, and carries a gear 97 for drivecoupling to a drive motor 99-through an intermediate speed reducer 101.

This hoist drum carries four cables 105, 107, 109 and 111, the cablesand 107 passing directly downwardly through the platform where eachpasses around a load sheave and is then anchored to a point in thetrolley assembly below the drum. The remaining two drum cables 109 and111 pass downwardly over a pair of head shears 117, 1.19 respectively,mounted in spaced relationship in the platform adjacent the remote endof the trolley, with each cable, like the others, passing around a loadsheave 121 and then anchored above to an anchor point on the trolleyassembly.

The load sheaves are located substantially at the corners of arectangle, and by proper location of each of the cables, the center ofsuch rectangle can be made to coincide with the center axis 75 of thetrolley frame and platform.

symmetrically suspended from these load sheaves, is a load carryingframe assembly 125 involving a frame of size and shape comparable to thelength and width dimensions of a freight container 126, such framenormally carrying load gripping and releasing mechanisms (notillustrated) adapted to grip and releaseably hold such a container afterthe frame assembly has been lowered into engagement with such container.

All motor drive controls are centralized in an operators cab 131 mountedin one corner of the bridge and extending above and below the generalplane of said bridge to afford an operator a View of the hoist mechanismon the trolley platform as well as the load being moved thereby. Fromthis vantage point, therefore, an operator may exercise full controlwithout guidance from an assistant.

The rotatable trolley assembly permits of any hoisted load to be rotatedabout the central axis 75 of the trolley assembly through a complete 360circle. This enables an operator to conveniently transfer a load fromone position of rest such as on a flat car 132, to another position ofrest such as a truck 133 for example, Without necessitating the priorinconvenient maneuvering of the truck alongside the fiat car to bringthem into parallelism, for the load may now be rotated to any anglewhich will permit of the same being properly deposited on the bed of thetruck, regardless of the directional position of the truck with respectto the flat car.

Such rotatability of the load further makes it possible to extend theoperational capacity of a gantry type crane in the handling of suchlarge loads as freight containers, which are normally too large to passsideways between the supporting end legs of the crane. Such containerswhen rotated through a 90 degree angle can pass between the end legs ofthe crane, and thus by designing such crane with cantilever extensions137 of its main girders, at one or both ends thereof, the travel rangeof the bridge may thus be materially extended beyond the supporting legsof the crane.

This type of construction, becomes very desirable in the case of asituation such as depicted in FIG. 7 of the drawings, wherein a railroadfreight yard 139 is flanked on one side by a roadway 141 and a warehouse143 and premises bordering on the roadway, while the freight yard along1 its other side may be bordered by a storage strip of land 145 whichmight preferably be paved for the purpose.

The rails 25 on which the crane will ride, may be disposed along eachbordering edge of the freight yard, while the cantilever extensions ofthe crane at one end will extend across the storage strip 145, while atthe other end, such extensions will extend sufiiciently to reach theWarehouse premises, whereby the crane may service trucks on the roadwayin addition to servicing the warehouse. In connection with the latter, afreight container may be deposited with a loading or unloading endfacing an entrance to the warehouse, whereby a fork lift may movedirectly from the warehouse into the container to thereby convenientlyand efiiciently effect a transfer of cargo between the two.

A gantry type crane of the type described, including the rotatabletrolley assembly may also be utilized to great advantage in the handlingand transferring of freight between the hold of a ship and a dock viceversa.

The term gantry type crane, where applicable, is to be construed broadlyto include bridge and overhead traveling cranes and the like.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of my invention inits preferred form, that the same will fulfill all the objectsattributable thereto, and while I have illustrated and described thesame in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited in myprotection to such details as I have illustrated and described, exceptas may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced main girderssupported on legs, said main girders extending beyond at least one pairof said legs as cantilever extensions, a cross beam connecting said pairof legs toward the lower ends thereof and a cross beam connecting saidmain girders at said extended ends to permit of movement of a suspendedload beyond said pair of legs; a bridge supported on said main girdersfor movement therealong, including said cantilever extensions, saidbridge having an open space therethrough; and means supported by saidbridge for rotatably suspending a load about a vertical axis, said meansincluding a circular track on said bridge in the area of said openspace, a trolley assembly having a plurality of wheels on said circulartrack to enable said assembly to rotate about an axis centrally of saidcircular tnack, said trolley assembly including hoist equipment having aplurality of load carrying sheaves disposed at the corners of arectangle lying symmetrically about said central axis.

2. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced maingirders; a bridge supported on said main girders for movementtherealong, said bridge having an open space therethrough; meanssupported by said bridge for rotatably suspending a load about avertical axis, said means including a circular track on said bridge inthe area of said open space, a trolley assembly having a plurality ofwheels on said circular track to enable said assembly to rotate about anaxis centrally of said circular track, said trolley assembly includinghoist equipment having a plurality of load carrying sheaves disposedabout said axis; and an operators cab carried by said bridge to one sideof said trolley assembly and extending both above and below the generalplane of said bridge, said cab having visual exposure above and belowsaid plane to provide visual access to the components of the trolleyassembly and any load suspended therefrom.

3. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced maingirders; a bridge supported on said main girders for movementtherealong, said bridge having an open space therethrough; meanssupported by said bridge for rotatably suspending a load about avertical axis, said means including a circular track on the upper sideof said bridge in the area of said open space, a trolley assembly havinga plurality of wheels on said circular track to enable said assembly torotate about an axis lying Within said circular track, said trolleyassembly including a motor in drive connection to at least one of saidtrolley assembly Wheels, hoist equipment including a hoist drum having aplurality of hoist cables, each suspending a sheave with said sheavesdisposed about the axis of said circular track above, and a motor indrive connection to said hoist drum; and an operators cab carried bysaid bridge to one side of said trolley assembly and extending bothabove and below the general plane of said bridge, said cab having visualexposure above and below said plane to provide visual access to thecomponents of the trolley assembly and any load suspended therefrom.

4. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced main girderssupported on legs, a lower cross beam connecting said legs at each endof the crane, a cross beam connecting said main girders at each end; abridge supported on said main girders for movement therealong, saidbridge having an open space therethrough; and means supported by saidbridge for rotatably suspending a load about a vertical axis, said meansincluding a circular track on the upper side of said bridge in the areaof said open space, a trolley assembly having a plurality of Wheels onsaid circular track to enable said assembly to rotate about an axiscentrally of said circular track, said trolley assembly including amotor in drive connection to at least one of said trolley assemblywheels, at hoist drum having four hoist cables, each suspending a sheaveto define the corners of a rectangle whose vertical axis coincides withthat of said circular track above, a container holding frame carried bysaid sheaves, and a motor in drive connection to said hoist drum; and anoperators cab carried by said bridge to one side of said trolleyassembly and extending both above and below the general plane of saidbridge, said cab having visual exposure above and below said plane toprovide visual access to the components of the trolley assembly and anyload suspended therefrom.

5. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced main girderssupported on legs, a lower cross beam connecting said legs at each endof the crane, said main girders including cantilever extensions beyondsaid end legs, a cross beam connecting said main girders at each endwhereby with said lower crossbeams, to permit of movement of a suspendelload beyond said legs at either end; a bridge supported on the uppersurfaces of said main girders for movement therealong including saidcantilever extensions, said bridge having an open space therethrough;means supported by said bridge for rotatably suspending a load about avertical axis, said means including a circular track on the upper sideof said bridge in the area of said open space, a trolley assembly havinga plurality of wheels on said circular track to enable said assembly torotate about an axis centrally of said circular track, said trolleyassembly including a motor in drive connection to at least one of saidtrolley assembly wheels, at hoist drum having four hoist cables, eachsuspending a sheave to define the corners of a rectangle whose verticalaxis coincides with that of said circular track above, a containerholding frame assembly carried by said sheaves, and a motor in driveconnection to said hoist drum; and an operators cab carried by saidbridge to one side of said trolley assembly and extending both above andbelow the general plane of said bridge, said cab having visual exposureabove and below said plane to provide visual access to the components ofthe trolley assembly and any load suspended therefrom.

6. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced main girderssupported on legs and extending beyond at least one pair of said legs ascantilever extensions, a crossbeam connecting said pair of legs towardthe lower ends thereof and a crossbeam connecting said main girders atthe cantilever ends thereof leaving clear spacing between said maingirders from end to end whereby to permit of movement of a bridge with asus pended load along the upper rims of said girders to points beyondsaid pair of legs; a bridge supported on the upper rims of said maingirders for movement therealong including said cantilever extensions;and means supported by said bridge for suspending a load therefrom.

7. A gantry type crane comprising a pair of parallel spaced main girderssupported on legs and extending beyond at least one pair of said legs ascantilever extensions, a crossbeam connecting said pair of legs towardthe lower ends thereof and a crossbeam connecting said main girders atthe cantilever ends thereof leaving clear spacing between said maingirders from end to end whereby to permit of movement of a bridge with asuspended load along the upper rims of said girders to points beyondsaid pair of legs; a bridge supported on the upper rims of said maingirders for movement therealong including said cantilever extensions;means supported by said bridge for suspending a load therefrom; and anoperators cab carried by said bridge and extending both above and belowthe general plane of said bridge to provide visual access to regionsboth above and below said bridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,419,129 Fitch June 13, 1922 1,440,065 Donnelly Dec. 26, 1922 1,990,539Fildes Feb. 12, 1935 2,063,913 Fitch Dec. 15, 1936 2,646,892 Dehn July28, 1953 2,675,131 Osojn-ak Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 751,082 GreatBritain June 27, 1956

